Closure,and apparatus for making a closure



WILCOX 3,447,734 CLOSURE, AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING A CLOSURE June 3, 196 9" Filed Oct. 5, 1966 FIG. 6

INVENTOR I. L. WILCOX A TTO/P/VE Y5 United States Patent 3,447,734 CLOSURE, AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING A CLOSURE Isaac L. Wilcox, Fulton, N.Y., assignor to Phillips Petroleum Company, a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 3, 1966, Ser. No. 583,568 Int. Cl. B65d /64, 21/00 US. Cl. 229-43 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a novel closure, and to a device for making said closure.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a novel closure comprising a skirt portion surmounted by a flange portion having integral wall portions, and a diaphragm having a projection at the periphery thereof, said projection being substantially confined between said integral wall portions of said flange portion, said flange portion being suitably offset radially inwardly to permit stacking of one closure upon another.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a novel closure comprising a skirt portion surmounted by a flange portion having integral wall portions, said flange being otfset radially inwardly from said skirt portion at the outermost lateral extent of said flange portion a distance at least as great as the minimum thickness of said skirt portion, and a diaphragm having a projection at the periphery thereof, said projection being substantially confined between said integral wall portions of said flange portion.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a novel clo sure comprising a substantially circular skirt portion surmounted by a flange portion having integral wall portions, said flange portion being in the shape of a frustum, and being suitable offset radially inwardly to permit stacking of one closure upon another, and further, said closure comprising a diaphragm having a projection at the periphery thereof which is substantially confined between said integral wall portions of said flange portion.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a novel closure comprising a circular skirt portion surmounted by a flange portion, said flange portion being in the shape of a frustum, and being suitable offset radially inwardly to permit stacking of one closure upon another, and further, said closure comprises a diaphragm having a projection at the periphery which is joined to said flange portion.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a device for manufacturing a closure comprising a first forming means suitable for supporting a closure comprising a skirt portion surmounted by a flange portion, and a diaphragm having a projection at the periphery thereof joined to said flange portion, a second forming means adapted to engage said first forming means in substantially face-toface relationship, said second forming means having a Substantially smaller radial extent than the first forming means, and a plurality of forming means adapted to contact said first and second forming means radially so as to compress said flange portion and said projection radially inwardly against said forming means.

In another aspect, the invention relates to the device described above wherein said second forming means has a radial extent no greater than said first forming means less a distance equal to the minimum thickness of the skirt portion plus the thickness of said flange portion.

One-piece closures having offset portions to facilitate stacking or nesting are well known in the art. US. Letters Patent 2,926,812 to the instant inventor incorporates stacking feature and such a cover. It is an object of this invention to make a lightweight, two-piece closure that stacks for easy handling, storing and shipping. It is also an object of this invention to provide a device for modifying a two-piece closure such that the modified closures will stack or nest one upon another. It is a further object of this invention to modify a two-piece closure so as to permit handling of said closure in a simple, vacuum type feeding device.

Other objects, aspects and the several advantages of this invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art from a reading of the disclosure, appended claims and drawing.

Accordingly, the invention provides a closure comprising a skirt portion surmounted by a flange portion, and a diaphragm having a projection at the periphery thereof joined to said flange portion, said flange portion and said projection being offset from said skirt portion radially inwardly a distance at least as great as the minimum thickness of said skirt portion, Conventional two-piece closures comprising a skirt portion surmounted by a flange portion, and a diaphragm having a projection at the periphery thereof joined to said flange portion can be modified to produce the closure of this invention in a device comprising a first forming means suitable for supporting a closure comprising a skirt portion surmounted by a flange portion, and a diaphragm having a projection at the periphery joined to said flange portion, a second forming means adapted to engage the first forming means in a substantially face-to-face relationship, said second means having a substantially smaller radial extent than said first forming means, and a plurality of forming means adapted to contact the first and second forming means radially so as to compress the flange portion and the projection radially inwardly against the second forming means.

The concept of this invention can be best understood by referring to the drawings.

FIGURE 1 shows a conventional two-piece closure which has not been modified in accordance with this invention.

FIGURE 2 shows two closures modified in accordance with the instant invention and stacked one upon the other.

FIGURE 3 shows the device provided by the invention for modifying the closures shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4A shows a suitable device for forming the closure of the invention in the open position;

FIGURE 4B shows the same device in the closed position.

FIGURE 5 shows a cross-section through a closure illustrating another embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 6 shows a cross-section through yet another embodiment.

In FIGURE 1, a two-piece closure generally indicated 10 comprises a skirt portion 1 surmounted by flange portion 3 having integral wall portions 12 and 5. Diaphragm 6 has a projection 4 at the periphery thereof, and the projection is substantially confined between integral wall portions 12 and 5.

In FIGURE 2, two closures in accordance with the invention are shown stacked one upon the other. Flange portion 3 is offset from skirt portion 1 at the outermost radial extent 7 of the flange portion 3 a distance at least as great as the minimum thickness of skirt portion 1, and, the diaphragm 6 which has a projection 4 at the periphery thereof, is substantially confined between integral wall portions 12 and 5 of the flange portion 3.

In FIGURE 4A, the closure illustrated in FIGURE 1 is supported upon first forming means 9. Above forming means 9, forming means 8, which has a substantially smaller radial extent than forming means 9, is adapted to engage means 9 in a substantially face-to-face relationship. Forming means 11a, which, as shown in FIG- URE 3, is one of a plurality of such means, is adapted to contact said first and second forming means radially, whereby said flange portion and the projection are compressed radially inwardly against the second forming means.

FIGURE 43 shows, in cross section, the device of the invention in closed position. Means 8 and 9 are shown in substantially f-ace-to-face relationship, with diaphragm 6 between them. As shown, means 8 is a female forming means, and means 9 is a male forming means, and diaphragm 6 has been pressed into a somewhat curved shape. Forming means 110, which is one of a plurality of such means, has compressed flange portion 3 against forming means 8, thus oflsetting flange portion 3 from skirt portion 1 at the outermost radial extent 7 of flange portion 3 at a distance at least as great as the minimum thickness of skirt portion 1, and, projection 4, which is at the periphery of diaphragm 6, is substantially confined between integral wall portions 5 and 12 of flange portion 3.

FIGURE 5 shows another embodiment of the invention. Skirt portion 14 is surmounted by offset flange portion 16. Disc portion 18 with projection 20 is joined, by heat sealing, to flange portion 16.

In FIGURE 6, a third embodiment, disc portion 22 with projection 24 is joined to flange portion 26 such that the edges of flange portion 26 and disc portion 22 are not exposed to the contents of the container to which the cover is joined. This is a particularly desirable embodiment when the materials of construction of the flange and disc are paperboard or plastic coated paperboard which often delaminates because of absorption of the container contents into the edges of the paperboard.

FIGURE 3 shows the device of the invention in closed position. The device illustrated is used to modify the closure illustrated in FIGURE 1, which has a round skirt portion. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that, although several radial forming means are shown, a minimum of two would suflice for modifying a round clousre.

It will be apparent that the shape of the first, second, and radial forming members will depend upon the closure shape desired. The skirt portion, for example, can be round, square, ovoid, or polygonal; portions of the skirt can be curved, and beads suitable for engaging a container top can be provided therein. The shape of the modified flange portion can also be varied. Preferably, it will be in the shape of a frustum, and more preferably, in the shape of a conical frustum, but it could also be in the shape of a square frustum, inverted conical frustum, inverted square frustum, or even parallel to the skirt portion.

Though the first and second forming means are illustrated as male and female forming means, it is evident that the concept of the invention is not limited thereto. Surfaces of these dies could be smooth or irregular, depending upon the desired pattern for the diaphragm. Of course, the shape of the forming members will be modified in accordance with the shape of the closure to be supported upon the first forming means.

The closure of this invention can be made of paper,

thermoplastic, paperboard coated on either one or both sides with thermoplastic, or any other suitable material. Suitable polymeric materials include the polyolefins, polystyrene, vinyl polymers and copolymers, etc.

The projection at the periphery of the diaphragm can project upwardly or downwardly therefrom, as FIGURES 5 and 6, respectively, show, and can be joined thereto, integrally or otherwise, on either the inner or outer surface of the flange portion.

Reasonable variation and modification are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention, the essence of which is a closure comprising a skirt portion surmounted by a flange portion, and a diaphragm having a projection at the periphery thereof, wherein said flange portion and said projection are offset radially inwardly from said skirt portion a distance at least as great as the minimum thickness of the skirt portion, and a device for forming such a closure.

I claim:

1. A two-piece closure comprising: a skirt portion surmounted by an integral upstanding flange portion and a diaphragm having a projection at the periphery thereof joined to said flange portion, said flange portion and said projection being oflset at an intermediate point between the base of the skirt and the top of the flange radially inwardly from said skirt portion a distance at least as great as the minimum thickness of said skirt portion to permit stacking of one closure upon another whereby the bottom of a skirt rests upon an offset of a closure below in the stack.

2. A closure as defined in claim 1 wherein said flange portion is in the shape of a frustum.

3. A closure as defined in claim 2 wherein said flange portion is frusto-conical in shape.

4. A closure as defined in claim 3 wherein said flange portion comprises integral wall portions in the shape of an inverted U, said projection projects upwardly from said diaphragm, and wherein said projection is substantially confined between said integral wall portions.

5. A closure as defined in claim 3 wherein said flange portion and said projection are joined in face-to-face relationship, said projection being joined to the inner surface of said flange portion.

6. A closure as defined in claim 5 wherein said projection projects upwardly from said diaphragm.

7. A closure as defined in claim 5 wherein said projection projects downwardly from said diaphragm.

8. A closure as defined in claim 3 wherein said flange portion and said projection are joined in face-to-face relationship, said projection being joined to the outer surface of said flange portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,716,965 6/1929 Lenderking 229--5.6 2,142,744 1/ 1939 Carew. 2,3 69,975 2/ 1945 OBrien 229-5.6 2,391,337 12/1945 ONeil 229-43 2,497,870 2/1950 Dennis.

FOREIGN PATENTS 168,902 4/1934 Switzerland. 794,682 5/ 8 Great Britain.

JAMES B. MARBERT, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 22097 

